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See what your generosity makes possible

Where your money goes + what a gift funds

Help bold ideas grow

How donations support research

NFCR funding gives scientists what they need to turn early ideas into discoveries that could one day help patients. Grants support basic laboratory research, including the time researchers devote to their experiments and the lab equipment and materials needed to carry them out. NFCR then helps move promising findings toward patient care, supporting the translation of early laboratory discoveries into effective treatments. Cancer research takes time, and promising ideas rarely fit neatly into traditional funding. NFCR provides seed funding that is difficult to obtain from other sources, along with a commitment to the long-term success of the research programs it supports. That support is flexible, so scientists can follow unanticipated discoveries as they emerge. NFCR also promotes collaboration among researchers, helping accelerate life-saving research worldwide.

Cancer research takes time, and promising ideas rarely fit neatly into traditional funding. NFCR provides seed funding that is difficult to obtain from other sources, along with a commitment to the long-term success of the research programs it supports. That support is flexible, so scientists can follow unanticipated discoveries as they emerge. NFCR also promotes collaboration among researchers, helping accelerate life-saving research worldwide.

How you can make cures possible

What a gift can gelp fund

The examples below show the kinds of research costs your support can help cover, from a single laboratory sample to a year of a researcher’s work. They are illustrations of typical research costs rather than designated giving options, and they show how gifts of different sizes contribute to scientists’ work.

$100

can help support the collection of a tumor tissue sample for laboratory tests and biological analysis. Studying these samples helps researchers investigate cancer and develop the knowledge needed to improve diagnosis and treatment.

$250

can help provide petri dishes used to grow cancer cells in the laboratory. These basic supplies support experiments that investigate biological markers and test how cancer cells respond to potential treatments.

$1,000-$2,500

can help fund a broad analysis of the genes in a tumor sample. This work gives scientists information that may guide research into more targeted and personalized approaches to cancer treatment.

$100,000

can help support a research fellow’s laboratory work for a year. Sustained support for skilled researchers provides the time and expertise needed to carry out experiments and advance cancer research.

Follow the path from idea to discovery

Evidence of impact

Cancer research is a long road: it often takes between 7 and 15 years to move from an idea to an FDA-approved treatment. Along the way, promising discoveries can stall in what scientists call the “valley of death,” when funding is hard to find. NFCR seed funding helps scientists cross that gap, and sustained support lets progress build over time. The measures below show the scale of that effort and the results it has produced. For detailed breakthrough stories, visit Discoveries Our Funding Made Possible.

  • 50+ yearsOf supporting cancer research and discovery
  • Scientists & research programsBacked across disciplines and generations
  • Discoveries with lasting impactFrom tumor biology and stem cells to targeted therapies and computational drug discovery

See the work behind the numbers

Accountability and giving

NFCR reports openly on how it uses the support it receives. Visitors can review the organization’s FY 2024 financial statements, Form 990 filings and annual reports dating back to 2002. NFCR is also recognized by independent charity evaluators, including a Charity Navigator Four-Star Rating, a Candid Platinum Seal and BBB Accreditation.

73% of funds support programs advancing cancer research and public education

  • 4-starCharity Navigator rating
  • PlatinumCandid Seal of Transparency
  • 990Form 990s and audited financial statements, public for every year
Your gift helps scientists test bold ideas, equip their laboratories and carry promising discoveries toward patients. Join us in supporting future research that could change how cancer is prevented, diagnosed and treated, and help make cures possible for all types of cancer.Donate to Support Cancer ResearchExplore the Global Summit